Twitter Reactions: Rahul-Jaiswal’s record-breaking unbeaten stand puts India in box seat against Australia on Day 2

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. (Source – Getty Images)

Day 2 of the ongoing third Test between Australia (AUS) and India (IND) of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25), being played at the Optus Stadium, in Perth, began with the visitors trying to wrap the Aussie tail early in the day. Day 1 ended with Australia trailing by 87 runs as their scorecard read 67/7, with Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc at the crease.

As the day began, the Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah gave the perfect start by removing the wicketkeeper-batter Carey for 21, in his first ball of the day. With this wicket, bumrah claimed his third five-wicket haul on Australian soil. Debutant Harshit Rana then went on to remove Nathan Lyon in no time, for a score of five. 

While Starc looked firm with his bat and partnered up with Josh Hazelwood to stitch a partnership and add those crucial runs. Bot the left-handers took the score past the 100-run mark but debutant Rana struck again by dismissing his former Kolkata Knight Riders teammate, Starc, who was looking resistant while batting on 26 runs. Interstingly, Starc was the highest scorer for the hosts in the innings, lacing his knock with two boundaries. 

The Indian openers began their second innings after Lunch and what came out from them was not expected by anyone. Both, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal took on the Australian pace attack with caution. The duo looked comfortable and were in no rush to score. Both were looking to get set and knew that runs would come if they got settled and built a partnership, they are likely to put the tourists on top.

Jaiswal went on to reach his fifty off 123 balls, and Rahul followed with his half mark in 124 balls. Both the batters were looking in sync and reduced in giving their wicket and put India on top. While the Southpaw played a little aggressively towards the end of the play, and is unbeaten on 90, after smashing seven boundaries and two sixes. With this, he has hit most Test sixes in a calendar year. On the other hand, Rahul is unbeaten on 62 and is looking solid for a big knock.

Also Read: ‘I bowl faster than you’ – Mitchell Starc engages in fun banter with Harshit Rana on Day 2

The duo will continue to bat on Day 3 while hoping to extend the lead further. Team India ended Day 2 on 172/0, with a significant lead of 218 runs. For Australia, their bowlers kept toiling hard the whole day but remained wicketless.

Here’s how the fans reacted to Day 2 of AUS vs IND First Test: